We match a Big Sister with a Little Sister taking care to ensure they have similar interests. Matches spend one-to-one time together doing things that friends do… like talking, playing ball in the park, watching a movie or just hanging out. You don’t have to change your life to become a Big Sister… having a Little Sister just means you have someone else to share your life with.
The Big Sisters Program matches adult Female volunteers (18 and over) with girls aged six to sixteen who have limited-to-no contact with one of their parents. Big Sisters spend a minimum of 2 outings per month with their Little Sister doing a wide range of friendship-based activities together. Big Sisters provide encouragement, guidance, and support. This is a minimum commitment of one year.
FAQs
Who can volunteer?
You can! A typical volunteer is a caring responsible woman who is over the age of 18. Our volunteers come from a variety of religious and cultural backgrounds and from all walks of life. There are no special skills required – only a willingness to spend some time with a young person developing a meaningfull friendship.
What is the basic commitment of a Big Sister?Big Sisters are asked to spend a minimum of 2 outings per month with their Little Sister. They are also asked to keep regular phone contact with their special new friend. They commit to their match for a minimum of one year.
Is there an age limit for Big Sisters?The minimum age for Big Sisters is 18. There is no maximum age limit, as long as the volunteer is in good health and maintains an active lifestyle.
How long do the friendships usually last?
The average friendship lasts three to four years. Many friendships last well beyond that and some last a lifetime. We have had some littles who continue their friendship with their Big Sister as they embark in becoming a Big Sister themselves in adulthood.
Will an applicant be matched to a child from any part of the city?To limit travel time, we try to match a Big Sister to a Little Sister who lives close by. But we also want to match volunteers with girls who have similar interests and personalities. Sometimes the most compatible Little Sister will live in a neighbouring community and a small amount of travel may be necessary. Please note that the volunteer choses if she wishes to be matched with a child in which there would be travelling time.
Do you need to own a car?No, some of our Big Sisters rely on public transit. In this case, we’ll try to match the volunteer to a child on an accessible transit route.
How old are the children?Little Sisters must be between the ages of six and sixteen when they first get involved, although friendships can continue under the Big Sisters Program until the girl reaches the age of 17.
What are the children’s backgrounds?Most of the girls have limited-to-no contact with their other parent and live in a single-parent home. A typical Little Sister is an average kid who would enjoy and benefit from spending quality time with an adult who shares her interests.
Like our volunteers, our Little Sisters come from a variety of cultural and religious backgrounds. This program is friendship-based and is not designed as a form of intervention for serious individual or family problems.
Are Big Sisters expected to help with family issues?A Big Sister’s primary responsibility is to spend time with her Little Sister, and is discouraged from getting involved in family dynamics. Our support and guidance ensures that clear boundaries are maintained.
Is there a cost involved in being a Big Sister?
There are no membership fees. We encourage the volunteer to choose activities that are no-cost or low cost, and fall within the mother’s limited budget. We help out whenever possible by providing free tickets to special events.
What do the kids like to do?
While interests vary, most kids like to participate in active and outdoor activities, like swimming, mountain biking, and roller blading. They also enjoy movies, games, and going to the park. A large portion of our Little Sisters enjoy team sports while others prefer arts, crafts, scrapbooking, doing each others hair and nails etc.
The focus of the program is to spend quality time together. It’s not always necessary to do exciting activities or to spend money. There are numerous activities to enjoy together.
Does the agency stay involved once the match is made?Yes. We provide on-going support and monitoring. Our Caseworker is available to deal with any questions or concerns that come up. Regular phone contact with all parties is an expectation of the program as are regularly scheduled meetings to discuss the progress of the match.
We also provide agency sponsored activities so that the Big and Little Sister can meet other matches in our programs.
You can make a difference in the life of a child!